[RogMar]

Originally Posted by NeutralNel

Having lived all over the world,(no we are not military) AR has been the most difficult to adjust to. I would describe it as a superficial friendly kind of place.: I should add that we live in LR and not out in the country so perhaps that makes a difference. I have found that at my childs school where a lot of families seem to be transplants it's a much more welcoming environment. You will find your comfort zone.

Well....I'll tell ya what.

I came up in the same atmosphere that I live in now. Neighbors helping neighbors, and every man is a friend.

Yes, as regs here know, I live in the country. No...the "real" country. I say that because we have a lot of towns around here that people move into, with a few acre lots, and think they live in the country.

City water/sewer, paved roads, and pizza delivery in 30 minutes disqualify you, as far as I'm concerned.

Although I sure nuff envy that pizza thing.

However, I have spent more than a little bit of time in Little Rock lately.

It took some adjusting.

Out here, everybody talks to everybody, and if you don't want to, better stay away from the fillin' stations, store check-outs, banks, pretty much anyplace, cause folks are going to talk to you like they know you and haven't seen you for awhile.

When in LR, I went in gas station to get directions. No other customers there, guy was sitting behind the counter, but he must have had a really bad day, because I think I broke his arm asking for directions.

The wife saw a T.J. Maxx and wanted to check their artsy-crafty section. We're standing in line......a long line...and people behind us are being very vocal about having to stand in line.

A well dressed black woman is right ahead of me, and it's very, very warm in the store.

The woman turns to look down the line, glances at me, and I say, "I bet they're savin' a ton of money on air conditioning in here", grinning a stupid RogMar grin.

Man.....that look said it all. OK.....OK...I won't talk to you again.

Now, I know that there's a lot of good folks in LR. I enjoyed talking with the Mexican guys drying my car at the car wash. They were friendly.

I'm just saying, it's a little different in the city.

I worked in a big city for 20 years, and I forgot that there's folks that aren't your friend, and don't want to be.

I've seen a lot of newcomers since I built my house here. I haven't seen a single one that wasn't welcomed personally and warmly to the area.

Over 60% of my area are 3rd and 4th generation residents, living and working the same farm that their grand-fathers or great grand-fathers started.

There's a lot of people around here I haven't met, but I bet they're the same as the one's I have met, they're my friends.

They just don't know it yet.

[podmate]

A few years ago I moved my family from Boston to Little Rock (I was born in LR, my wife is a yankee).

My wife was very worried about moving here because it was WAY out of her element.

5 years later, she is very happy. She loves how nice everyone is (at least as compared to New England). She loves not having to spend 1-2 hours per day in traffic. She loves being able to be out in the country in 20 minutes. She loves that she has at least a 25% chance of getting decent customer service (in New England you have 0% chance). She hates July/August (as most of us do).

When we moved into our house, most everyone within 8 houses of our house stopped by. Some gave us some food, all just wanted to welcome us.

About half opened with the question -- 'Do you have a church-home?'. What they are really asking (in most situations) is are you a religious fundamentalist and if not we will try to convert you.

There are 5 'houses' on our street where the owners will not talk with us and will not let their kids play with our kids because I'm agnostic and my wife is Catholic.

If someone here ever asks you if you are 'born again?' don't answer with 'nope, I was born correctly the first time' or you will make an enemy for life.

All the religious nutjobs aside. Most people in Little Rock/Arkansas are pretty darn friendly.

If you move here, be sure to put a razorback (mascot of the 'big' State University) flag out. Great way to get the neighbors over for a chat.

[GetmeoutofAR]

Originally Posted by podmate

A few years ago I moved my family from Boston to Little Rock (I was born in LR, my wife is a yankee).

My wife was very worried about moving here because it was WAY out of her element.

5 years later, she is very happy. She loves how nice everyone is (at least as compared to New England). She loves not having to spend 1-2 hours per day in traffic. She loves being able to be out in the country in 20 minutes. She loves that she has at least a 25% chance of getting decent customer service (in New England you have 0% chance). She hates July/August (as most of us do).

When we moved into our house, most everyone within 8 houses of our house stopped by. Some gave us some food, all just wanted to welcome us.

About half opened with the question -- 'Do you have a church-home?'. What they are really asking (in most situations) is are you a religious fundamentalist and if not we will try to convert you.

There are 5 'houses' on our street where the owners will not talk with us and will not let their kids play with our kids because I'm agnostic and my wife is Catholic.

If someone here ever asks you if you are 'born again?' don't answer with 'nope, I was born correctly the first time' or you will make an enemy for life.

All the religious nutjobs aside. Most people in Little Rock/Arkansas are pretty darn friendly.

If you move here, be sure to put a razorback (mascot of the 'big' State University) flag out. Great way to get the neighbors over for a chat.

So you say New England people are curt and rude, is that just Boston? People in rual places tend to be more friendly. I found people in rual New England to be quite friendly

[podmate]

Originally Posted by GetmeoutofAR

So you say New England people are curt and rude, is that just Boston? People in rual places tend to be more friendly. I found people in rual New England to be quite friendly

We did not get out into Western Mass. too much, but the people that we met from Central Mass. over to Boston were usually rude.

We went to New Hampshire a lot and the city people were mostly rude. The country people were very standoffish didn't want to talk much.

Vermont? They were pretty nice if a bit eccentric. Vermont is almost all rural and is a pretty nice place. I think the cows outnumber the people though.

Connecticut: Spent quite a bit of time outside Groton and again, most of the people were very standoffish.

Of course, there were nice people there too. Not everyone is rude. I met quite a few nice people in Boston. The problem was, almost every 'nice' person I met was not from New England.

Maybe it was me. I come from Arkansas and am used to being able to talk to anyone around. In New England, this seems to be frowned upon if you are not a local.

[northbound74]

Originally Posted by NeutralNel

Having lived all over the world,(no we are not military) AR has been the most difficult to adjust to. I would describe it as a superficial friendly kind of place.: I should add that we live in LR and not out in the country so perhaps that makes a difference. I have found that at my childs school where a lot of families seem to be transplants it's a much more welcoming environment. You will find your comfort zone.

It's the same way in many small towns.

[northbound74]

Originally Posted by GetmeoutofAR

So you say New England people are curt and rude, is that just Boston? People in rual places tend to be more friendly. I found people in rual New England to be quite friendly

I also found rural northern New England to be extremely friendly. One of the nicest places I've been to.

[Aporkalypse]

Originally Posted by RTTNFAM

I agree! But I also don't see NWA being as bad GetmeoutofAR thinks it is!

I agree, I think it's a great place to live.

And I think what I mentioned is probably limited to certain parts of Bentonville and Rogers.

[GetmeoutofAR]

the friendliness is secondary to the main problem in the area which is conjested roads.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by GetmeoutofAR

the friendliness is secondary to the main problem in the area which is conjested roads.

you know I guess it depends on where in NWA you live and where you have lived before. We have been on 71 all times of the day, from 7:30am to 8PM and never found them anything like other areas we have lived in. Yes, Bentonville On Walton can get a bit slow as can areas around the shopping centers, but still, compared to most areas it is nothing.

Nita

[GetmeoutofAR]

if you compare the cars per roads per the sizes of the towns yeah the roads are crowded